click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Weather Terms: #1
First unit weather test vocab
Question | Answer |
---|---|
air pressure | the force put on a given area by the weight of the air around it |
tornado | a violent whirling wind that moves across the ground in a narrow path; strongest winds |
hurricane | a very large, swirling storm with a very low pressure in the center which causes major destruction due to its storm surge; fueled by warm ocean temperatures |
blizzard | storm with very low temperatures (<20 degrees Fahrenheit) and winds that are > 35 mph. Large amounts of snowfall decrease visibility. |
thunderstorm | the most common severe storm, formed in cumulonimbus clouds and severe lightning is present |
cirrus clouds | a high-altitude cloud made of ice crystals; thin and wispy; brings no precipitation; generally precipitation can come in a day or two |
stratus clouds | a cloud that forms a blanket-like layer across the sky, lowest clouds |
cumulus clouds | a puffy cloud that appears to rise up from a flat bottom, middle layer clouds, fair weather |
cumulonimbus clouds | large thunderstorm clouds; often called thunderheads; produce large amounts of precipitation |
wind vane | a device that indicates wind direction (N, S, E, W) |
rain gauge | a cylinder tube that measures rainfall (inches or cm) |
anemometer | an instrument that measures wind speed (mph or kph) |
barometer | a device for measuring air pressure (inches or millibars) |
thermometer | an instrument used to measure air temperature (Fahrenheit or Celsius) |
hygrometer | a device used to measure humidity (percentage 0-100) |
ruler/yardstick | an instrument used to measure snowfall |
humidity | the amount of water vapor in the air |
average pressure felt per square inch | 14.7 pounds per square inch |
Air molecules want to move from areas of _______ pressure to areas of _______ pressure. | high/low |
Why does cold air weigh more than warm air? | It is more dense than warm air. |
Low pressure is __________ moving air or water. | FAST |
The word nimbo or nimbus means.... | clouds that bring precipitation. |
Is air more or less dense around the equator? | Less dense because air molecules have more energy and they are more spread out...causing the air to be lighter/less dense. |
A thunderstorm is an example of a ____________ pressure system. | low |
A sunny day is an example of a ______________ pressure system. | high |
hydrological cycle | the continuous movement of water on Earth |
condensation | the process where water vapor turns into a liquid; forms clouds; heat energy is lost |
evaporation | the process where water changes from a liquid to a gas (vapor); heat energy is gained |
infiltration | water that seeps/soaks into earth's surface |
precipitation | the process where water returns to the earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail |
transpiration | the process where water is slowly released from plant life into the atmosphere |
runoff | water that flows over the surface of the earth |